My children, since we came here I have not been visited until to-night by even a shadow of those forebodings which, in the form of divine prescience, illuminated my plans and your fortunes in Olympus. [_A pause, while the gods lean towards him in deepest attention._] But a dream came close to my pillow last night and whispered to me strange, disquieting words.... I have no longer the art of clairvoyance, but I find I am not wholly dark. Still can I faintly divine the forms of the future, as we may all divine the roll of the woods before us, and the cleft which leads down to the shore, although this impalpable vapour shrouds our world.... And, from the dream, or from my faint perceptions, I am made aware that another mighty change is approaching us. [_A silence._] HERACLES. Can you indicate to us the nature of this change? [_Looking round the semicircle._] If it is permitted to us to do so we would repudiate it. [_The gods in silence signify their assent._] ZEUS [_not replying to_ HERACLES]. When we fled hither from the consuming malignity of the traitor, it was communicated to me that this island on the very uttermost border of the world was left us as a home from which we should never be dislodged. Here we were to dwell in peace, and here ... to grow old, and ... die. Here, in the meantime, new interests, humble wishes, cheerful curiosities have already twined about us, and we have gazed upon Pandora's jewel, and are no more the same. PERSEPHONE. Are we to be driven hence still farther towards the confines of immensity, father? ZEUS. I know not. KRONOS. More journeys, more weary, weary journeys? ZEUS. I know but what I tell you ... that I foresee a change. [_A silence._] How breathless is the air. Not the outline of a leaf is shaken against the sky. PHOEBUS. But the mist grows thinner, and high up in it I see a faint blueness. ZEUS. I do not--nothing but the bewildering woolly whiteness, that chills my eyeballs.... [_With a sudden vivacity._] Ah! yes ... it is the sea! Is Poseidon here? POSEIDON. I went down to the shore very early indeed this morning, before there was an atom of mist in the air. I called upon the glassy, oily sea, and I could not but fancy that, although there was little motion in the wave, it did roll faintly to my foot, and fawn at me in its reply. To me also, father, it seemed as though my element was burdened with a secret which it knew not how to convey to me. [_A silence._] APHRODITE [_aside to_ PALLAS]. If we must be driven forth again, let us at least cling to such new gifts as we have secured here. PALLAS [_in an eager whisper_]. I should like to know what you consider them to be. Do you hold introspection as one of them? APHRODITE. I certainly do. The analysis of one's own feelings, and the sense of watching the fluctuating symptoms of one's individuality, form one of the principal consolations of our mortal state. PALLAS. I think I should give it another name.